FRENCH TENOR MIGUEL VILLABELLA 1925-1935 RECORDINGS 3 CDR

 

MIGUEL VILLABELLA (BILBAO, 1892, 20/12 – PARIS, 1954, 28/6)

 

 

Originally, he was destined to become a businessman and received his education in Paris. He also distinguished himself as a sportsman, notably setting a world record in roller skating. His voice was discovered by the famous baritone Lucien Fugère. In 1917, he sang publicly for the first time in a concert in San Sebastián. During the First World War, he performed for French soldiers.

After further training under Jacques Isnardon in Paris, he made his operatic debut in 1918 at the Grand Théâtre de Poitiers as Cavaradossi in Tosca. In 1920, he was engaged by the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where he made his debut as Spoletta in Tosca. From 1928, he simultaneously became a member of the Grand Opéra in Paris, debuting as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly.

He retired from the stage in 1940 and subsequently worked as a pedagogue in Paris.

Chronology of some appearances

1917 Spain San Sebastian Concert

1918 Paris Grand Théâtre de Poitiers Tosca (Cavaradossi)

1920 Paris Opéra-Comique Tosca (Spoletta)

1928 Paris Grand Opéra Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)

1929 Paris Grand Opéra Persée et Andromède (Persée) (Premiere)

1930 Opéra de Monte-Carlo (-)

1931 Paris Grand Opéra Virginie (-) (Premiere)

1934 Paris Grand Opéra Don Giovanni (Don Ottavio)

1936 Opéra de Monte-Carlo (-)

TRACKLIST

 

Pathé, Paris 1925/1926

Mignon (Thomas): Elle ne croyait pas 0489

Lakmé (Delibes): Ah, viens dans la forêt 0489

Mireille (Gounod): Anges du paradis 0490

Faust (Gounod): Salut, demeure 0490

Rigoletto (Verdi): Comme la plume au vent 0499 200073

Lakmé (Delibes): Fantaisie 0498

Bohème (Puccini): Que votre main est glacée 0515

Manon (Massenet): Le rêve 0519 200338

Manon (Massenet): Ah! Fuyez, douce image 0519 200339

Dragons de Villars (Maillart): Ne parle pas, Rose 0499 200020

Werther (Massenet): Invocation 0516

Fortunio (Messager): La maison grise 0516

Pathé, Paris 1927?

Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach): O dieu de quelle ivresse 0611 200615

Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach): Ah, vivre deux 0610 200616

Grisélidis (Massenet): Voir Grisélidis 0610 200539

Panurge (Massenet): Chanson de la Touraine 0611 200614

Jongleur de Notre-Dame (Massenet): O liberté 0623 200708

Roi d’Ys (Lalo): Aubade 0623 200710

Suzanne (Paladilhe): Comme un petit oiseau 0624 200711

Sapho (Massenet): Qu’il est loin mon pays 0624 200709

Ay, ay, ay! (Freire) 3320

Canción andaluza (Bucker) 3320

Pathé, Paris 1927 – 1931

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): D’un métal, pt 1 with Baugé 7159

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): D’un métal, pt 2 with Baugé

Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): C’est toi, pt 1 with Lantéri 7160 201340

Pathé, Paris 1928/1929

Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Ah, quel plaisir 0672

Sérénade (Gounod) 3355

Fortunio (Messager): Si vous croyez 0673

Sérénade française (Leoncavallo) 3355

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Des rayons de l’aurore 7127

Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Viens, gentille dame, pt 1 0697

Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Pt 2 0697

Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Ce domaine with Izarié 2612 201790-A1

Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Fuyons! with Izarié 2612 201869-A1

Odeon, Paris 1929-04-17

Rigoletto (Verdi): Quatuor with Tessandra, Norena & Rouard 123.010 xxP6875

Rigoletto (Verdi): Duo, Act 2 with Norena 123.010 xxP6876

Pathé, Paris 1932?

Roi d’Ys (Lalo): Vainement, ma bien-aimée 90051 N250259

Pathé, Paris 1932-06/07

Bohème (Puccini): Quatuor with Sibille, Villabella & Baugé X90056 250274-MC2

Pathé, Paris 1934

Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Attendez, attendez PG26 CPT 1079

Amadis (Lulli): Bois epais, redouble ton ombre PGT20 CPTX 177

Pathé, Paris 1935

Si j’étais roi (Adam): Vous m’aimez, dites-vous with Feraldy PD12 CPT 1960

Si j’étais roi (Adam): Pt II with Feraldy PD12 CPT 1961